No.5143, Private, George OLLEY
Aged 23
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George Olley was born in Cosford (4th qtr 1877 Cosford 4a:515), son of William and Dinah OLLEY(née FURRANT).
1881 census...Aged 3, he was at Old Hall Green, Cockfield with his father William OLLEY [33] farm labourer born Bradfield Combust; his mother Dinah [31]; sister Emma [9] and brother John [7]. All except his father were born in Cockfield. 1891 census...Aged 13, he was still at Old all Green with his parents, sister Emma and brother John and sisters Ellen [9] and Annie [1]; brother James [5]. 1901 census...The family were still at Old Hall Green. |
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The 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment arrived in South Africa on 28th November 1899. They suffered very severely at Grassy Hill, near Colesberg
on 6th Janaury 1900. 3 Officers and 25 OR killed, 1 officer and 23 OR wounded and over 100 captured. The hill was later renamed as Suffolk
Hill. George survived that and just over one year's fighting, being awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal, before being taken ill and dying in Middelburg from enteric fever.
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